the day sets the pace
slow rising too
difficult to rouse
any sense of purpose
or intent
my focus now internal

soon, the wolves will come
as winter bites and food is short
metaphorical perhaps
but the darkness is real
folding around me here
now
present

light the fire
it lights my soul
awakens my mind
as ideas stir
the half-light and the flickery flames
weave channels
of possibility
places
people,
worlds beyond this space and time

embrace it
embrace the darkness
the closeness
the enveloping weight
of your narrowed horizon
I am here
content
in the dark month

[2023]